Discussions regarding the second phase of the Israel-Hamas deal are scheduled to commence on February 3, 2025, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar. The ministry reported that observers did not record any significant violations of the ceasefire agreement during the truce.
Prior to this, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had declared the initiation of a counter-terrorism operation in the city of Tulkarm, located in the northern part of the West Bank. A ceasefire came into effect in the Gaza Strip on January 19, 2025, although its start was delayed by approximately three hours due to Israel not receiving a list of hostages to be released from Hamas.
During this delay, Israeli military forces targeted sites in central and northern Gaza. In a subsequent development, Hamas released three women, prompting Israel to free 90 prisoners from its jails.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on October 7, 2023, when thousands of armed Hamas supporters infiltrated Israeli territory from Gaza. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was in a state of war. The objective of Israel's retaliatory operation was to repel the attack, secure the release of over 200 hostages, and dismantle Hamas.